## 4c. Introduction

The Canterbury Tales were written between 1387 and 1400 by Geoffrey Chaucer. He was a diplomat and travelled widely in Europe before settling down in his native England again. He must have been heavily influenced by modern Italian and French works, as he borrows literary techniques from Italian writers such as Dante Alighieri or Giovanni Bocaccio.

Written in Middle English, the story follows a group of pilgrims who are travelling the long journey from London to Canterbury Cathedral. Setting off from a London inn, the innkeeper suggests that during the journey each pilgrim should tell two tales to help pass the time. The best storyteller, he says, will be rewarded with a free supper on his return. Thus, Chaucer sets up a frame story, allowing him to tell multiple stories with different styles and topics within one overarching story.

Chaucer introduces us to a vivid cast of characters, including a carpenter, a cook, a knight, a monk, a prioress, a haberdasher, a dyer, a clerk, a merchant and a very bawdy miller. These characters come from all corners of 14th century society, and give Chaucer the chance to speak in many different voices. Some of the characters' tales are humorous, rude and naughty, while others are moral and reflective.

Chaucer began the tales in 1387 and continued until his death in 1400. It consists of a General Prologue (in which the story is set out and the characters introduced) and twenty-four tales, each told by a different character. These tales encompass many different genres, such as fables, romances, allegories and fabliaux.

A surprising number of copies of the Canterbury Tales survive from the 1500s - more than 80. This suggests the tales were enormously popular in medieval England.

Watch the video below to find out more about the importance of this medieval text.